GovEx Data Points

--- How students, cities, and researchers are using data science and AI to tackle housing, blight, and other real-world government challenges through the Data Science for Social Good program.

---- In this episode, Oliver Wise speaks with Data Science for Social Good Fellows Rayid Ghani, Jaspreet Ranjit, and Alibi Shakputov about how students, researchers, and local governments are using data and AI to solve public challenges. From roof damage in Baltimore to urban blight in Baton Rouge, they share how real-world partnerships and open-source tools can help governments make more proactive decisions while preparing the next generation of civic technology leaders.

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--- How the role of city chief data officers is evolving, why generative AI is changing government work, and how data leaders can build capacity, trust, and better services.

--- In this episode, Bonaguro reflects on her path from philosophy and mathematics to data leadership roles in San Francisco and California. She discusses how chief data officers can navigate bureaucracy, build trust across departments, and create practical data programs that solve real problems. She also explains why generative AI is reshaping government technology and what public sector data leaders need to do to build capacity, manage risk, and improve services.

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--- Why cities need faster, smarter decision-making and why empathy, judgment, and trust still matter most in the age of AI.

--- In this episode, Flowers reflects on his path from prosecutor to New York City’s first Chief Analytics Officer and explains how cities can use data to improve operations, break down silos, and better serve residents. He also discusses why governments are struggling to keep pace with generative AI, what today’s chief data officers need to succeed, and why public trust depends on competence, transparency, and accountability.

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--- Matt Sokol discusses why better data is the foundation for successful AI, smarter services, and public trust.

--- In this episode, Sokol shares how Washington, D.C. is breaking down data silos, improving data quality, and making open data more accessible through tools like DC Compass. He also reflects on lessons cities are learning from one another as they navigate modernization, transparency, and the growing demand for faster data-driven decision-making.

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--- Boston’s Chief Research and Data Officer, Shin-pei Tsay, shares how cities can shift from analytics to impact by focusing on user experience, transparency, and practical AI use.

--- This episode explores how the chief data officer role is evolving as cities move from experimentation to real-world results. Tsay reflects on Boston’s approach to using data and AI to improve services, from rethinking permitting to expanding access through open data tools. She shares why aligning teams around impact matters, how bringing people along during the process builds trust, and what it takes to make data more accessible across government.

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